Peru striker Paolo Guerrero will be allowed to play for his club side Flamengo despite drugs ban

PeruWorld Cup star Paolo Guerrero will be allowed to play for his Brazilian club Flamengo when the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A resumes this week – despite the fact the striker’s suspension for cocaine use.

In late May, the Swiss Federal Tribunal put a provisional stay on a suspension given to Guerrero by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), allowing him to play for Peru in Russia.

It had not been immediately clear if that ruling applied only to the World Cup, raising concern among Flamengo fans that the club might not be able to call upon their veteran star.

But a Switzerland top court said on Tuesday that the May decision “is in force until the court approves other measures or reaches a final decision”.

Guerrero, 34, tested positive for traces of cocaine after a World Cup qualifier between Peru and Argentina on October 5 and was initially banned for a year, which was later reduced to six months on appeal last December.

“Honestly it’s a dream come true, a childhood dream. I am very proud for all the people who supported us, and myself.

“It has been sometimes difficult you know but it is a privilege for me to be part of this team. We have been very solid, very strong all the way, until the end. And I think it’s well deserved.”

Asked to explain what he meant by difficult moments, the striker – proudly wearing his winners’ medal – said: “All of my career I have been, how can I say… I have been through certain difficulties and I have always tried to make it.

“It motivates me to get better and better and go through these difficulties and it is what happens in life when you are really motivated, determined, committed, it is never easy.

“Football is very hard and people see only the nice part of the job. But we work very hard for this achievement and I am very proud to say I am a World Cup champion.”

France boss Deschamps defended Giroud in the build-up to the final, pointing to his diligent work and support play.

That work has been important over the year for club and country, but the striker has come in for flak in his homeland as well as the Premier League.

“No, no, no (I don’t feel more respected in France) because I have been criticised a little but in France as well,” the ex-Arsenal striker said.

“For example, I didn’t score in the World Cup. I receive a lot of messages from people who know football well, lots of French supporters.

“They see the work I do for the team and a lot of people wanted me to score in the final.

“I said ‘yes I hope so but even if I don’t score and we are world champions it will be the best thing that has happened in my life’ so I don’t know if I have had a chance again. I tried to work for the team and I know what I can bring to the team.

“It’s the same for my team-mates. It is not one or two players or 11 players, it is 23 and that was the strength of the French team this year.”

Giroud is glad this French team managed to show everybody what they can do, although he said trying to replicate the “amazing generation” of 1998 did not add extra pressure.

Like then, the triumph was greeted with wild celebrations that is his focus rather than life under new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

Belgium completed a remarkable comeback from two goals down when Chadli tapped in following a ruthless stoppage-time counter-attack.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois released Kevin De Bruyne following a Japan corner, he then played the ball wide to Thomas Meunier and, after a clever step over from Romelu Lukaku, Chadli was on hand to add the finishing touch.

The 22-year-old full-back levelled for Les Bleus in spectacular fashion, fizzing a half-volley into the top left corner from the right corner of the penalty area to claim his first international goal after Lucas Hernandez’s cross from the opposite wing evaded everyone in the middle.

Bearing some similarities to Dennis Bergkamp’s memorable strike for Holland against Argentina at France ’98, Messi killed Ever Banega’s angled pass on his thigh before instantly taking the ball away from Kenneth Omeruo with a superb second touch and then finishing emphatically.

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4. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal 3-3 Spain, Group B, June 15, Sochi)

In arguably the game of the tournament, Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with two minutes remaining to snatch a point for Portugal by bending the ball in to the top right corner from a 25-yard free-kick which left David De Gea rooted to the spot.

Having collected the ball close to the centre circle, the Villarreal forward went past Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic, played a one-two with Artem Dzyuba, and then unleashed a dipping left-footed strike into the top left corner from 25 yards for his fourth goal of the tournament.